'The policies - determining who would be drafted and who would be deferred, who would serve and who would escape, who would die and who would live - were an antidemocratic disgrace...I am angry that so many of the sons of the powerful and well placed...managed to wangle slots in reserve and National Guard units. Of the many tragedies of Vietnam, this raw class discrimination strikes me as the most damaging to the ideal that all Americans are created equal and owe equal allegiance to their country.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Vietnam draft policies were an antidemocratic disgrace, allowing the powerful to avoid service while others died, highlighting class discrimination.
- In plain terms
- The draft was unfair, favoring the rich and discriminating by class.
- What can you take from it?
- Ensure equal burden sharing in national service.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What safeguards prevent class bias in service obligations?
- How can societies balance equity with military needs?
Another view
Changing entrenched systems can face strong political resistance.
More from Colin Powell
'The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting in above-average effort.'
Permalink to quote #12 'Many of my generation, the career captains, majors, and lieutenant colonels seasoned in that war [Vietnam], vowed that when our turn came to call the shots, w…
Permalink to quote #14 'That's not really a number I'm terribly interested in.'
Permalink to quote #11
Related quotes
George W. Bush has helped those who have most, hurt those who have least and ignored everyone in between.
Wesley ClarkWesley Clark quote #13 Limbaugh: What is the imperative for pulling out? What's in it for the United States to pull out? They, I don't think they have an answer for that other than, …
Rush LimbaughRush Limbaugh quote #48 I, for one, am at the end of my rope when it comes to supporting a policy that has our soldiers patrolling the same streets in the same way, being blown up by …
Gordon SmithGordon Smith quote #1